Smeringopina chaillu, Huber, Bernhard A., 2013

Huber, Bernhard A., 2013, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Guineo-Congolian spider genus Smeringopina Kraus (Araneae, Pholcidae, Zootaxa 3713 (1), pp. 1-160 : 49-50

Smeringopina chaillu new species

Figs. 11 , 708–715 , 836–841

Type. ♂ holotype from Gabon, Ngounié, Massif du Chaillu , “site 4”, between Yéno and Mouila (1°43.7’S, 11°18.4’E), 650 m a.s.l., forest along river, 26.viii.2011 (B.A. & S.R. Huber), in ZFMK (Ar 10308).

Other material examined. GABON: Ngounié: Massif du Chaillu , “site 4”, between Yéno and Mouila, same data as holotype, 4♂ 2♀ in ZFMK (Ar 10309); same data, 4 juvs. in pure ethanol, in ZFMK (Gab 171). Massif du Chaillu , “site 3”, between Mimongo & Yéno (1°38.1’S, 11°32.6’E), 570–650 m a.s.l., forest, 26.viii.2011 (B.A. & S.R. Huber), 1♀ in ZFMK (Ar 10310); same data, 1♀ in pure ethanol, in ZFMK (Gab 234). Massif du Chaillu , “site 2”, near Moukabou (1°36.6’S, 11°40.7’E), 560 m a.s.l., forest, 25.viii.2011 (B.A. & S.R. Huber), 4♂ 3♀ in ZFMK (Ar 10311); same data, 3 juvs. in pure ethanol, in ZFMK (Gab 173). Ogooué-Lolo: Massif du Chaillu , “site 1”, near Iboundji (1°26.4’S, 11°58.4’E), 515 m a.s.l., forest along brook, 25.viii.2011 (B.A. & S.R. Huber), 1♂ 2♀ in ZFMK (Ar 10312); same data, 3 juvs. in pure ethanol, in ZFMK (Gab 176).

Etymology. The name is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners (large species with long abdomen, cone-shaped modified hairs on male chelicerae, embolus with sclerotized proximal part, transversal light element ventrally on abdomen) by shape of bifid procursus ( Figs. 836–837 ), unmodified male clypeus (in contrast to S. kribi ), shape of sclerotized proximal part of embolus ( Fig. 839 ), shapes of male cheliceral apophyses including pair of short frontal projections and distribution of modified hairs ( Fig. 838 ), and trapezoidal anterior epigynal plate (similar to S. bayaka but without pair of humps) slightly angular in lateral view ( Figs. 708–709 , 840 ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 7.0, carapace width 2.0. Leg 1: 70.6 (16.1 + 0.8 + 15.7 + 34.5 + 3.5), tibia 2: 10.7, tibia 3: 7.7, tibia 4: 9.6; tibia 1 L/d: 93. Distance PME-PME 220 µm, diameter PME 195 µm, distance PME- ALE 105 µm, distance AME-AME 55 µm, diameter AME 185 µm. Carapace ochre-yellow with brown lateral margins and brown triangular mark posteriorly connected with brown ocular area, clypeus brown in lower half, sternum dark brown; legs light ochre-brown, dark rings subdistally on femora and tibiae and in patella area, tips of femora and tibiae whitish; abdomen ochre-gray with distinct dark pattern dorsally, laterally, and ventrally. Habitus as in Figs. 711–712 , ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with distinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; clypeus unmodified but hairs longer than usual; deep thoracic pit and pair of shallow furrows diverging behind pit. Chelicerae as in Fig. 838 , with lateral proximal apophyses, long distal apophyses, and pair of short frontal apophyses, distal and frontal apophyses and frontal cheliceral face provided with modified (cone-shaped) hairs. Palps as in Figs. 713–715 ; coxa unmodified; trochanter with simple retrolatero-ventral apophysis; femur proximally with very shallow ventral pocket bordered retrolaterally by strong sclerotized ridge, with small retrolateral apophysis, without prolateral modification; prolateral femur-patella joint very prominent and strongly shifted toward ventrally; tarsus with some stronger hairs dorsally; procursus with very indistinct hinge between proximal and distal part, with bifid main branch and pointed ventral branch ( Figs. 836–837 ); bulb with widened and sclerotized proximal part of embolus ( Fig. 839 ). Legs without spines and curved hairs, with few vertical hairs, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 1%; prolateral trichobothrium present on all tibiae; pseudosegments barely visible.

Variation. Dorso-distal process of dorsal procursus branch slightly variable in length; frontal pair of processes on male chelicerae slightly variable in length. Tibia 1 in 6 other males: 17.1–19.3 (mean 17.8).

Female. In general similar to male; clypeus with shorter hairs. Tibia 1 in 8 females: 13.6–16.0 (mean 15.1). Epigynum large, consisting of wide, roughly trapezoidal anterior plate slightly angular in lateral view ( Figs. 708– 709 , 840 ), and large posterior plate; internal genitalia as in Figs. 710 and 841 .

Natural history. While this species was not uncommon in well preserved forests with large trees, adult specimens were difficult to find at those sites where the large trees were missing (“site 1” and “site 3” above). Distribution. Known from four localities in Massif du Chaillu , southern Gabon ( Fig. 627 ).

Figures

FIGURE 627. Known distribution of the beninensis species group.

FIGURES 2 – 16. Smeringopina, alive specimens in their natural habitats. 2 – 3. S. bineti, mating pair (Sêbori, Guinea) and female with juveniles (Doucki, Guinea). 4. S. guineensis, female with juveniles (Mount Nimba, Guinea). 5. S. pulchra, male (Ankasa N. P., Ghana). 6. S. ebolowa, male (Kribi, Cameroon). 7. S. essotah, female with eggsac (Essotah, Cameroon). 8 – 9. S. ogooue, male (NE Makokou, Gabon) and female with eggsac (Pahon Pira, Gabon). 10. S. belinga, male (Monts de Belinga, Gabon). 11. S. chaillu, male (near Iboundji, Gabon). 12. S. bwiti, male (Moulandoufouala, Gabon). 13. S. sahoue, male (Sahoué, Gabon). 14. S. tchimbele, male (Monts de Cristal, Gabon). 15 – 16. S. simplex, female with eggsac and juveniles (Mt. Koupé, Cameroon).

FIGURES 703 – 715. Smeringopina tchimbele n. sp. (703 – 704), S. bayaka n. sp. (705 – 707), and S. chaillu n. sp. (708 – 715). 703 – 706, 708 – 709. Female abdomens, ventral and lateral views. 707, 710. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. 711 – 712. Male, dorsal and ventral views. 713 – 715. Left male palp, prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views.

FIGURES 836 – 841. Smeringopina chaillu n. sp. 836 – 837. Left procursus, prolateral and retrolateral views. 838. Male chelicerae, frontal view. 839. Left embolus, prolateral view. 840. Epigynum, ventral view. 841. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.5.